Green Infrastructure Fosters Community and Transforms Neighborhoods

In the 48214 and 48215 zip codes of Detroit, climate challenges are part of daily life. The area is particularly susceptible to flooding This past year, youth in the AmeriCorps Climate READY program at Wayne State University worked to directly address issues of flooding by transforming underutilized vacant lots to native to rain gardens capable of capturing stormwater and mitigating runoff while also increasing community greenspaces and local pollinator habitats.  These gardens reduce strain on the overtaxed combined sewer system by increasing nature-based infrastructure for rainfall retention in the area. 

Tthe youth team and community volunteers transformed five vacant lots into native rain gardens, each between 800 and 1,000 square feet. More than 2,500 native plants now fill these sites. Using the EPA’s stormwater retention calculator, the team estimates that the gardens will capture 155,198 gallons of rainfall each year, protecting residents and local waterways from polluted runoff and flooding.

The impacts of these gardens were immediately apparent in the community. On visits to the gardens, READY youth spotted Monarch caterpillars, Common Eastern Bumble Bees, and Ailanthus Webworm Moths. The project area sits at the convergence of two major migratory flyways. The gardens will continue supporting migrating birds and pollinators for years to come. 

Residents helped guide every installation the team completed. More than 100 volunteers joined the team and shared their preferences for the placement and scale of the installations. The team was flexible and worked to create gardens that both honored community wishes and met ecological goals.

Like so many other projects this year, the READY team met challenges. When the AmeriCorps Federal Agency temporarily shut down in April 2025, the disruption was severe. We at Earth Rising were happy to help accommodate the necessary changes to the project in order to best support those on the ground doing the work. 

Today, the five rain gardens stand as proof that community led and youth powered climate action is possible and impactful, even in difficult times. The effects of this work will be felt in the community for years to come and the connections made among those who put effort into these gardens will foster an even stronger community based environmental justice movement in Detroit.